Nutritional quality human studies

Feeding studies. Although sweet potatoes are a significant source of calories in many parts of the world, very little information is available concerning the nutritional quality of sweet potato protein as determined by controlled feeding studies in humans. 

Nutritional Implications. The nutritive quality of any protein depends on three factors amino acid composition, digestibility, and utilization of the released amino acids. Bacemization brought about by processing can impair the nutritive value of proteins by (a) generating non-metabolizable forms of amino acids (D-enanticmers), (b) creating peptide bonds inaccessible to proteolytic enzymes, and (c) toxic action (or interaction) of specific D-enanticmers. Little is known concerning the health consequences of human consumption of racemized proteins. No study has specifically evaluated amino acid losses due to racemization within food proteins. 

Experimentation. Veterinarians in academic research laboratories and other research facilities perform experimental studies and surgeries on animals to develop new medicines, treatments, and surgeries to improve the health care available to both human beings and other animals. They also conduct nutritional and management studies to improve the quality of meat produced from animals and poultry. 

Schmidt, H. L. (1986). Food quality control and studies on human nutrition by mass spectro-metric and nuclear magnetic resonance isotope ratio determination. Fresenius Z. Anal. Chem. 324, 760-766. 

An important complication that is specific to human developmental toxicity studies is the necessity to control for confounding factors that influence human development, such as parental intelligence, quality of home environment, nutritional factors and socioeconomic status (Bellinger et al., 1992 Bellinger, 1995). These may influence the outcomes from the newborn period to adulthood. In addition, assessment methods must take into consideration the time (days, months or years) that may intervene between exposure/insult and the expression of toxicity at a much later age. 

Nutrition. Fats and oils are recognized as important nutrients for both humans and animals because they provide a concentrated source of energy, contain essential fatty acids, and serve as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins. Research studies have also indicated a relationship between saturated fats, cholesterol, and trans-isomers and the incidence of coronary heart disease. In many cases, shortening functionality can be maintained with formulations limiting cholesterol, the identified saturated fatty acids, and tran -isomers. Shortening formulation can also aid in reductions of fat consumption by development of more effective products to reduce the levels required to produce the desired functionality and finished product quality. 

Schmidt, H.L. Food Quality Control and Studies on Human Nutrition by Mass Spectrometric and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Isotope Ratio Determination. 

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